September 28 Campaign to Decriminalize Abortion Goes Global

September 28, the Day for the Decriminalization of Abortion in Latin America, provides an important opportunity for advocates and supporters in the region to hold demonstrations, talks, film screenings and other events to raise awareness about the impact of illegal abortion. Activities today aim to build support for dismantling restrictive abortion laws in Latin America and the Caribbean.

This year, the Women’s Global Network for Reproductive Rights (WGNRR) is joining the original Latin American and Caribbean campaign to internationalize the movement in collaboration with partners in countries around the world. WGNRR is inviting advocates for sexual and reproductive health and rights worldwide to join in what will be called September 28: Global Campaign for the Decriminalization of Abortion.

The original September 28th Campaign formed in 1990 at the Fifth Latin American and Caribbean Feminist Meeting to address some of the most restrictive abortion policies in the world that are found in Central and South American countries. Most abortions performed in the region are unsafe, and the World Health Organization estimates that one in eight maternal deaths results from unsafe abortion in Latin America and the Caribbean. On average, 3.9 million unsafe abortions occur each year in the region.

Today, Ipas offices throughout Latin American are participating in or sponsoring events to raise awareness about the continuing human rights and public health crisis posed by unsafe abortion:

Ipas Central America

Abortion law: In 2006, Nicaragua passed a law making it illegal under all circumstances for doctors to provide and for women to seek an abortion, which is punishable by lengthy prison sentences. Several international human rights organizations have confronted the Nicaraguan government about the total ban on abortion and the extreme danger it poses to women’s health, but the government refuses to address these concerns.

Actions: For Sept. 28, Ipas Central America is involved in the following events:

March For the Right to Decide – co-sponsored by the Strategic Group for the Decriminalization of Therapeutic Abortion with other organizations.
Symposium on ethics in medicine with the National Autonomous University of Nicaragua-León; one of the presenters is a philosopher from El Salvador who will speak on the ethics of the termination of pregnancy

Ipas Mexico

Abortion law: In Mexico City, women can get a safe first-trimester abortion at no cost. Approximately 20 percent of women requesting abortion services come from other Mexican states. However, women throughout the country who don’t have the resources or ability to travel to Mexico City continue to suffer the consequences of unsafe abortion services.

Actions: For Sept. 28, Ipas Mexico is doing the following:

Participating in a “ciclotón,” or mass bike ride, in an important avenue in Mexico City; organizations involved in safe abortion work and advocacy, including Ipas, will staff booths with informational materials.

In addition, an Ipas policy associate will participate in a roundtable discussion in Rio de Janeiro on the challenges for the abortion decriminalization movement in Brazil; she will present findings on how abortion criminalization hurts women’s health and the public health system.

Source: http://ipas.org